Twitterati admires Steve Smith for smothering England with back-to-back tons in Birmingham

Smith soaked in the pressure early on and then upped his scoring rate when he got his eye in.

By CricTracker Staff verified

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Steve Smith
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Steve Smith. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Steve Smith was making a comeback in the ongoing Ashes Test versus England at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. The focus was on him as he was wearing the white jersey after 16 months following the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. However, thus far he hasn’t shown any signs of nervousness whatsoever. In the first innings, he notched 144 runs, taking the Aussies to a respectable 284.

At one pointy in time, the visitors were tottering at 122 for eight after which Smith came to the party. Peter Siddle lent him apt support and even the tenth wicket stand with Nathan Lyon fetched 74 runs. Smith was unstoppable in the first innings until Stuart Broad got rid of the big fish. Now, the Sydney-born batter has been able to carry over his form even in the second innings of the game.

Steve Smith comes to the party again

The run-machine racked up back-to-back tons and showed why he is regarded as one of the greatest Test cricketers in the modern generation. Smith came to bat after Cameron Bancroft and David Warner perished cheaply yet another time. At that time, the visitors were still trailing by 63 runs. Smith had the left-handed Usman Khawaja at the other end, who eventually got 40 with six fours.

Thereafter, Smith started the resurrection work with Travis Head, who looked solid in the first innings. The stalwart didn’t allow the pressure to build and took Australia to 124 for three by the close of play on the third day. In the first session of Day four, Smith got to his half-century off 69 balls. He along with Head took the Aussies into the lead and was going from strength to strength.

Unfortunately, Ben Stokes nipped out Head in the 53rd over after the left-hander scored 51 off 116. The duo added 130 for the fourth wicket and brought their team right back into the game. The lead had extended to a reasonable 115. Then it was the turn of Matthew Wade to join Smith in the middle.

He was on 98 before Lunch and piled up his century off 147 deliveries in the second over of the second session. He drove Broad through the covers for a boundary and raised his bat in delight. After the masterclass, Twitter was in awe and the fans lauded Smith for producing another superlative knock under pressure.

Here’s how the fans heaped praises on Smith

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